Soil and pavement compacting machine

ABSTRACT

The machine has a frame to which a compacting drum is rotatably mounted and has a pneumatic-tired wheel pivotally journaled to the frame. The wheel is independently powered by a hydraulic motor to provide machine traction, and is steerable by means of an extending handle coupled thereto.

United States Patent Dresher 1451 June 5, 1973 [541 SOIL AND PAVEMENT COMPACTING 3,416,419 12/1968 Kronholm .94/50 R MACHINE 3,316,822 5/1967 Seaman ..94 50 P 2,824,592 2/1958 Neisler ..94/50 R [75] Inventor. Seymour Dresher, Mornstown, NJ. 2,878,731 3/1959 Kressin "94/50 R {73] Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company, New 2,332,986 8/1945 Ganley P York N Y 3,422,735 1/1969 Vitry ..94/50 V [22] F'led: Sept 1971 Primary Examiper Ni Ie C. Byers, Jr, [21] Appl. No.: 177,996 Att0rneyFrank S. Troidl, David W. Tibbott and Bernard J. Murphy 1 [52] US. Cl ..404/l22 [51] 1111.01. ..E0lc 19/26 1 ABSTRACT [58] Fleld of Search ..94/50 R, 50 P, 50 V The machine has a frame to which a compacting drum is rotatably mounted and has a pneumatic-tired wheel [56] Referencgs cued pivotally journaled to the frame. The wheel is inde- UNITED STATES PATENTS pendently powered by a hydraulic motor to provide machine traction, and is steerable by means of an ex- 2587343 2/1952 tending handle coupled thereto. 2,812,696 11/1957 Henry ..94/50 V I 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SOIL AND PAVEMENT COMPACTING MACHINE This invention pertains to soil and pavement compacting machines which have rotatable compacting drums and are steered by means of an independent, ground-engaging wheel, and in particular to a machine of the type noted having an independently powered, steerable wheel.

Prior art soil and pavement compacting machines have an independently-mounted, ground-engaging wheel with steering means fixed thereto for controlling the direction of the machine These steerable wheels are dependent upon other traction means to cause rotation thereof. Accordingly, machine traction derived from the engagementof the driven, compacting drum with the pavement, or from a draftof the machine by an external separate prime'mover, causes rotation of the steerable wheel.

The prior art arrangement is exceedingly inefficient. Having to pull an unpowered steerable wheel places an inordinate burden on the compacting drum and the minimal traction derived therefrom. Thus, the drum is subject to unwarranted skidding or slippage. Especially is this so when the steerable wheel is turned transverse to a path-line extending perpendicular to the axis of drum rotation; i.e., corrective steering with an unpowered, tractionless wheel just increases the drag on the driven, compacting drum.

Prior art soil and pavement compacting machines, having the traction limitations just noted either must be towed by a separate prime mover, or must be used with necessary drag-loading and resultant skidding and slippage of the drum. Either practice lacks eff ciency.

It is an object of this invention to teach an improved soil and pavement compacting machine. An object of the disclosure is to set forth a soil and pavement compacting machine having a steerable wheel which imposes no drag on the machine drum. A specific object of the invention is to teach a soil and pavement compacting machine, having a frame with a compacting drum rotatably and drivenly mounted thereto, compris ing steerable traction means, for causing selective steering and tractive movement of said machine, coupled to the machine frame.

A feature of this invention comprises the coupled deployment of an independently-powered, steerable, pneumatic-tired wheel, on the frame of a soil and pavement compacting machine, for deriving traction and machine direction control therefrom.

Further objects and features of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is an outline illustratiomin side elevation, of a soil and pavement compacting machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, detailed and fragmentary illustration, in side elevation, of the steerable powered wheel and frame mounting, according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a front elevation illustration, in the scale of FIG. 2, depicting the wheel and motor drive'arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section 44 of FIG. 2, showing the mounting of the steering handle to the wheel yoke;

FIG. 5 is an outline illustration, in side elevation, of an alternate embodiment of a soil and pavement compacting machine according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a crosssectional view of the operators swivel seat, of the machine of FIG. 5, taken along section 55 of FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the novel soil and pavement compacting machine 10 comprises a frame 12 to which is rotatably mounted a compacting drum 14. A hydraulic-fluid-powered motor 16 drives the drum (in a manner well known in the art). The machine carries an engine 18 which energizes the hydraulic fluid, and is supported on the soil or pavement by means of drum 14 and a steerable wheel 20. A steering handle 22 extends from the machine and, as shown in FIG. 2, is effectively coupled to the wheel 20 to realize machine direction control. Optionally, the machine may have a pickup hook 24 to facilitate its handling and trans-shipment from site to site.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show that a yoke 26 carries the wheel 20 thereon. The yoke 26 comprises a pair of parallel limbs 28 which are joined in a common journal sleeve 30. The upper termination of the sleeve has an inner, annular shoulder 32 which receives a thrust bearing 34. Bearing 34 is interpositioned between shoulder 32, a surface 36 of frame 12, and a stub shaft 38. Stub shaft 38 projects downwardly from a surface 36 of a shaft assenibly 40, and is integral therewith. Finally, stub shaft 38 extends into an axially extending bore 42 formed within sleeve 30. A key (not shown) inter-engages both the stub shaft and the sleeve, so that rotation of the form er necessarily effects a rotation of the latter.

Wheel 20 carries a pneumatic tire 44 thereon, to derive traction, as well as pneumatic cushioning, for the machine. The wheel has a hollow axle or shaft 46 which, at one end; mounts a bearing 48 and is fixed by fastening means 50 to one of the limbs 28. The other end of shaft 44 confines a splined sleeve 52 therein. Sleeve 52 engagingly receives a splined drive shaft 54 which projects from a hydraulic-fluid-powered motor 56.

Motor 56 provides wheel 20 with independent motive power, thus, according to my invention, the traction of the machine 10 is enhanced thereby. Even with selective steering of the machine 10 by rotation of yoke 26, the wheel 20 presents no drag it provides a propelling force for the machine, rather, in whatever steering direction. Pressured hydraulic fluid for enabling the motor 56 is supplied to fitting 58 (by fluid lines not shown).

As represented in FIG. 4, shaft assembly 40 carries a pair of lugs 60 (only one being shown) which receive bolts 62 therethrough from parallel webs 64 which terminate the handle 22. By this arrangement, a slue of the handle 22 to either side of the machine 10 will cause a rotation of shaft assembly 40, stub shaft 38, and a steering orientation of wheel 20.

In the alternate embodiment, depicted in FIG. 5, the machine 10a has a folded steering handle 22a. Further, the machine body 66 mounts an operators swivel seat 68 thereupon. Thus, the machine operator can be transported by the machine 10k: during machine operation, and as the handle 22a is folded back to adjacency to the seat 68, the operator can effect steered handling of the machine 10a.

The pivotal/wheel-steering mounting of handle 22a is identical with the mounting of handle 22 (as shown in FIG. 2). In FIG. 6 is illustrated the swivel mounting of seat 68. The mounting embodiment, shown for illustrative purposes, comprises a seat post 70 have an annular shoulder 72 thereon, the shoulder having bearings-74 disposed to either sides thereof and retained within'an enclosure 76.

While I have described my invention, in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A soil and pavement compacting machine, having a frame with a compacting drum rotatably mounted thereto, comprising:

support means, pivotally coupled to the machine frame, for supporting wheel means;

wheel means, rotatably supported by said support means, said wheel means being cooperative with the compacting drum for supporting the machine wheel meansywherein said support means comprises a yoke journaled to the frame;

said motor means comprises a fluid-powered motor;

said motor is replaceably fixed to said yoke and is slidably engaged with said wheel means; and further including a steering handle fixed to said yoke for effecting steering of said wheel means.

2. A machine, according to claim 1, further including:

an operators seat; and

means swivel-coupling said seat to said frame; and

wherein said steering handle has a termination disposed in adjacency to said seat. 

1. A soil and pavement compacting machine, having a frame with a compacting drum rotatably mounted thereto, comprising: support means, pivotally coupled to the machine frame, for supporting wheel means; wheel means, rotatably supported by said support means, said wheel means being cooperative with the compacting drum for supporting the machine on pavement; and motor means, drivingly coupled to said wheel means, for effecting independent, driving rotation of said wheel means; wherein said support means comprises a yoke journaled to the frame; said motor means comprises a fluid-powered motor; said motor is replaceably fixed to said yoke and is slidably engaged with said wheel means; and further including a steering handle fixed to said yoke for effecting steering of said wheel means.
 2. A machine, according to claim 1, further including: an operator''s seat; and means swivel-coupling said seat to said frame; and wherein said steering handle has a termination disposed in adjacency to said seat. 